First Trip to PKI -where to eat?

As the title says I have never been to PKI before and I am looking to get the best deal for food in the park. Also, I don't want to miss anything special that they have there in the food department. Can anyone help me out?

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I like to think I am a lot like Dragster. I have lots of down time, and I provide some great thrills.

The best place to eat that I have tried has been the Bubba Gump Shrimp Shack. It's pretty reasonable for what you get.

Cincinnati is best known for its chili and a trip to Skyline Chili (also known as the Lunch Basket on Coney Mall) should be considered a stop. Try a 3-way (spaghetti, chili, cheese) or a couple of cheese coneys.

Don't forget to get some blueberry ice cream, available at Huckleberry Dairy in Hanna Barbera Land or at the Ice Scream Zone in Action Zone.

X Factor

I usually don't eat in the park itself (well, a large park like PKI or CP) but when I do I love this little place in the Coney Mall section that serves up some killer fries and chicken tenders.

I do hear great things about the Bubba Gump place and the Roadside Cafe (both in the Coney Mall sections, near Adventure Express and the Vortex, respectively) but have yet to eat at either.

Skyline is OK. LaRosa's has it's moments. I would highly recommend the ole "Festhaus" in the "Oktoberfest" section. They have a little bit of everything and it's air-conditioned.

PKI's prices are not THAT bad but it's still a corporate park which means the prices are more than what you would pay at your traditional park. Hurry up though! Closing weekend is early November. :-)

Have fun,

-Tina

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Gimme speed, height, airtime and plenty of LAUNCH!!!

*** This post was edited by coasterqueenTRN 10/15/2003 8:23:37 AM ***

If you really want to get a taste for the local area, you must eat Skyline and LaRosa's.

Skyline is different - an acquired taste for some. But give it a chance.

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Agreed, but you don't have to go to PKI JUST to sample LaRosa's or Skyline. There are plenty of them in the area.

-Tina

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Gimme speed, height, airtime and plenty of LAUNCH!!!

I tried a 3-way, didn't much care for it.....Skyline Chili, Tina, get your mind outta the gutter...;)

Real chili is *nothing* like that stuff IMO....
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Tact is for people not intelligent enough to comprehend sarcasm...;)

LOL @ Gator :)

Tina - two posts and not a mention of Chipotle? I am sooo disappointed in you ;)

-Jim (Coasterqueen's personal chef in '04 lol;))

I like the chili itself, although I don't think it's anything spectacular. I don't care for it on spaghetti, but then I don't eat a lot of pasta anyway.

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"Friendship -- more lasting than love, more legal than stalking."

I just asked for a bowl full of chili at Skyline, and they were happy to oblige. I found it quite tasty. Ignore what Bill said, he's from Florida and they have no good food there. ;-)

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Mike Miller - The CPG: The ORIGINAL flash mob

LOL! I figured so Bass, but I prefer my chili a bit more hearty with chunks of tomato and beef and onions.....just like Grandma used to make. :-)

Invy, I was just going to suggest Chipotle (even though it's not a Cinci thing) but I don't want to start another thread gone wild. :-)

Just WAIT till you visit me next year young man! You will have so much Chipotle and Skyline and LaRosa's in you that they may not let you on the coasters. ;-)

*MY* mind is in the gutter Gator? ;-)

-Tina

<----who can't wait to try Invy's cooking. :-) Hmm, they might not let ME on the coasters after that!

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Gimme speed, height, airtime and plenty of LAUNCH!!!

*** This post was edited by coasterqueenTRN 10/15/2003 12:27:52 PM ***

Tina - Just as long as you fatten me up enough so I can't fit on Delirium I'll be just fine thank you ;) I'll hold the coats LOL

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Coasters, kitties, beer n buddies - life *is* sweet :)

Just seeing a billboard for that pasta/chili crap is enough to turn my stomach. What is wrong with people that they think such a thing is a good idea?

The best restaurant at Kings Island is Cooler in the Trunk.
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Ripple Rock Amusement Park

Oh my poor Jim. So naive. lol.

You *ahem* WILL get on Delirium. Oh yes you will. And I will videotape it to send it back to all your mates in Glasgow.

<----evil laugh

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Gimme speed, height, airtime and plenty of LAUNCH!!!

<----quakes in his boots ;)

Hmmm, we'll see about that LOL

-Jim

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Coasters, kitties, beer n buddies - life *is* sweet :)

Skyline CHILI is kind of a misnomer, it really is nothing like chili. I'm sure most people know this, but some of the ingredients in it are chocolate, nutmeg and cinnamon.

IMHO, the best way to eat it is on the coney. Imagine a 3-inch long hot dog in a mini-bun, with mustard, chili and onions, and about a pound of cheddar cheese on top. Mmm.

Although I admit, I like "real" chili even better. Tim Horton's serves up a good bowl, but I like homemade much better, especially with mushrooms and lots of hot peppers... (mouth waters)

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Actually Den, based on Tina's *brief* description, sounds like HER chili tastes pretty good. Best place to eat lunch? Tina's!

A *real* chili dog can be had at a Texas Wieners, but the only place I've ever seen them is in Jersey (there's one on Rt. 22, but it's about a hour east of Dorney)....now *I* am getting hungry....

Invy Jim....stop laughing @ me, start laughing WITH me....:)
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Tact is for people not intelligent enough to comprehend sarcasm...;)

I used to like Chili until I read that description. The word is forever tainted.

What is a "coney?" Is it just another word for Hot Dog or does it refer to some sort of food assault (like smothering it with all manner of nasty stuff).

As a former resident of NJ, I learned I have to be careful when choosing a restaurant in Ohio :)
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Ripple Rock Amusement Park

*** This post was edited by millrace 10/15/2003 12:59:24 PM ***

Den - I watched a TV show a while back where they made chili and added some dark, bitter chocolate to it. The cook spoke of how the aztecs would use chocolate with chilies as they have an affinity with each other :)

I make chili fairly often so next time I might just try adding some chocolate to see how it comes out.

Gator - oh I was laughing with you - nice to see gutter humour transcends the Atlantic!

-Jim (who says it's best to eat lunch at Tina's when he's there;)) Just kiddin' mate!

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Coasters, kitties, beer n buddies (and chocolatey chili!) - life *is* sweet :)

I always thought a "coney" was just a generic word for a hot dog with some sort of red sauce or chili on top. We even had coney dogs in the school cafeteria.

But I'd give up all the coney dogs in the world for a Chicago-style dog - all-beef hot dog piled high with tomatoes, mustard, relish, onions, sport peppers, cucumbers and a whole kosher dill pickle spear, sprinkled with celery salt.

Holy cow, I literally have saliva pouring from my tongue after typing that description. ;) And I just ate!

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Cincinnati style chili (like Skyline) is Greek in origin and has as little to do with real chili as that Tex-Mex stuff.

A Coney is a chili dog with Cincinnati style chili. A Cheese Coney has the smoothering layer of shredded cheddar.

But forget Coneys, the epitome of Cincinnati chili is the inverted three-way (spaghetti, cheese and chili layered in that order) with oyster crackers and hot sauce. It's an acquired taste for sure.

As for where to eat at PKI, others have covered the park pretty well. Another option is to see if your parking receipt says it's good for same-day reentry. If so, you can get a handstamp and hit any number of restaurants just north of the park. Just don't count on parking anywhere near the gate when you return.

Anyone tried the Chinese place at the foot of International Street? Any good?